Table leg construction



July 11, 1933. J E 'BALES Er AL 1,917,916

TABLE LEG CONSTRUCT ION Original Filed Aug. 9, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 n .14 TTORNE YS.

July l1, 1933.

J. E. BALES El' AL TABLE LEG CONSTRUCTION A f III lul" @j Wm /4555 29 J4 1912 28j/Q 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 6 l 55 g4 45 45 42 l 5L 411 z8 E4 l I 50 15/ mVENToRsf- U A TTORNEYS.

Patented July 11,1933

' rainei Unirse sursis earner ortica JAMES BAIES` AND GAB-L 'I'. CHRISTANSEN, OZEAURORA, `ILIIIITISy ASSIGNOVlEtS yIO LYON IVIETAL VE'P.i)]3l'l'(`fiS, INCORPORATED, 0F AURORA, ILLNOlS, A4 CORPORATION OF LLINOIS TABLE LEG coNsTRUCTioN Original application'led August 9, 1929, Serial No. 334,582, now YlPatent No. 1,860,644, dated May 31, 1932.

A Divided and this applicatian led June 20, 123@ Serial No. 462,607.

This invention relates'to tables in Ageneral and particularly to table legs whichflfold beneath thetop ot' the table.

The present invention 'is a division of application liie'rial Noll-381582, lilcd August 9, 1929, new Patent No. 1,860,6lhlay 31, 1932.

The primary object of the inventionV is to provide a table having new and improved folding legs which are automatically locked in position when the legs are extended.

Another object is to provide a table having walls, legswhieh'are locked in position 4when the legs are extended and which may be unlocked when the legs are given a part turn.

vA further object is to provide a folding table'which is provided with inter-engaging means for locking the table legs in extended position and which is provided with means for unlocking the legs when the legs are given a partial turn.

A further object is to provide a table having support to which the table legs are pivotally attached, said legs comprising a'sleeve portion and a leg portion. Spring means are provided for urging the leg portion iny one direction relative to the sleeve portion 'for locking the leg in extended position. Means are also provided for urgingthe leg in an opposite direction when the leg portion is given a partial turn.

A further object is to provide vthe method ol making table legs which consists in insert; ing a spring having a free end leading through the spring, providing a hole in a Closed end of a member through which the free end of the spring extends, tensioning the'r springl by pulling the free end, passing favstening means through the said member to provide a tension on the spring, and finally cutting the free end of the spring and restrictin the spring between fastening means and the closed end of the member.

Yumerous other objects and advantages will appearthroughout the progress of the specification.

The invention comprises in general a table having rails which are made from a single strip of sheet metal. rlhe rails are bent to provide inwardly extending legs which are perpendicular to the vertical plane of the vrails. These legs are arranged below the table .top substantially the same distance as the thickness ot the top. Corner pieces have reduced ends which lit into theopenends of the rails and are fastened thereto sothat the outside of the rails will be flush with the out- Qhe legs comprise a sleeve portion and a leg portion received in the sleeve portion. A spring coneealedinslde of 'the leg portion,

` side ot the corner pieces. rlhe corner pieces i have parallel flanges provided on their bottoms to which legs are plvotally attached.VV

and fastening means extending through the l.

ilanges on the corner pieces and through the sleeve and leg portions confine the spring between the fastening means and the top of the leg portion. The leg portion vis provided .vith'diagonal slots for retracting the nor'- mally projecting' pin or locking memberon the end ol the legl portionv when the leg portion is given a partial turn. A socket'is pro-V J vided in each corner piece to receive this pin when the leg is in extended position. A To fold the legs it is first necessary to give the leg portion a partial turn whichwill bring the pin out of engagement with the socket.

Thegaccompanying drawings illustrate a selected embodiment or' the invention and the views therein are as follows:

1- is a detail proved table.

l Fig. v2 isa detail sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. f Y

Fig. Sis a detail* bottom plan section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. i is a detail sectional lviewof an inside corner on the line 4 4 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is a detailsectional view on the line 5 5 of Figzz 6 is a detail sectional vew on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5

showing the leg in extended locked position. l

Fig. 7. is a similar view showing the leg in receded lornnlocked position. l

Fig. 8 isa detail sectional `view on the line 8 8 of Fig. 5. Y

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates generally, a table having rails .11, which are fastened. to corner pieces 12. Legs 13 are pivotally vconnected to the corner pieces 12,

Leiva-91eA l 3 clearl f shown in Figs. G and- 7 to erinit fre .l u 1 P locking and unlocking engagement. r i i f It is-understood, oflcourse, that the sleeve 30 may be iliade-polygonal .instead ofcircu-V lar,.-as shown, and that the `entire vupper end ofthe leg may fit into a corresponding `socket instead of using the smaller conical pin/i3 engageable Witlrtlie smaller socket 4A.

.The legs are Vprovided with .a decorative portion a6', Figsl and 2, suoli` as-luting or knurliiig to decorate the legs .and make the table more attractive-and also. to increase the firmness ofthe grip of; the operator. on the table leg to bring the pin 43 out Vof engage'- ment with itssocket. j g

The iiivention providesa table `leg which is strong and durablein construction,which is efficient in operation, and which Vcanbe readily and economically manufactured. The legs automatically'lock in position when extended andinay be unlocked by giving'a part of the leg apartialturn. Thelegsmay be manufactured at a very low cost and may be, readily manipulated for bringing them into locked o r unlocked position.` V'lhemethod of constructing the legs, inserting the springs in the legs, -and thelocking feature of the legs relative tothe top providesl an.

easily operated i igid.table.which may be constructed ofjrelatively4 few and .simple parts.` y 1 I Changes may be made in the form,`coii7 struct-ion, and arrangement of the parts and the Vvarious steps inthe method may be varied Without departing from the ,spirit of the inreiition'or sacrificing any' ofits advanta-ges, and the rightrisliereby reserved to make allsuch changes as fairly `fall Within the vscope ofthe following claims. y l

The invention ish ereby claimed as Yfollows l. A table kcomprising a leg,ineans Qn'said leg enaageable ivitli a part. of said` table, mea-iis for normally urging theleg lengthwise, and means for bringing said first named means Vout of engagement with thc said p art of said table and against the urging 'action when said leg is manually rotated a pref` determined distance 'aboutY its longitudinal axis.. .i' Y

2. A table comprising a pivoted leg, means including a spring for automatically locking said leg in extended position, and means for unlocking said leg` against the tension of the spring` upon turning movement of said leg about/its longitudinal axis.

3. A table comprising a leg having a member thereon, spring means for normally urg.- ing said member outwardly, and means to cause rotative movement of the leg to produce longitudinal movement thereof.

4. A table comprising a socket member, a foldii'ig leg, means on said leg and engageable with said socket member ivhenit is in eX- tended position, means for urging said means twisted manually. l

'5; A `table Vcomprising a support, a leg pivoted to said; support,ispring controlled means for lockingsaid legin extended psiy tion, and means for unlocking said leg dui'- iug axial turning movement of saidleg.4

. 6. Av table .comprising 'ar supportfa 'leg connected to said support,l intereiigaging means on said leg 'and support, `and means forp'reventing engagement lof said interengaging means When'axial turning movement is vapplied tosaid leg. A r .7, A table `comprising a leigjavspring# pressed part extending from said leg. means elngageable with saidpart When the leg is'in eXtendedA position', andiiieans for withdraw,-

ing said part out 'of `engagementfivith said lirst named means Whensaidjleg is given-aV part'tu'rn axially. .y Y f 8. A table comprising a'frame, a leg support on said franiepa leg pivoted tovsai'd sup'-` port, intereng'agin'g` nieansoii said support and legpwhen said leg is extended. means'to limit theeXt-ending movement of said leg. and means for preventingengagement if said interengaging means when said l afparttiirnaxially. l 'i 9. In a table, a support,a legcfoiiinrisiiig a 'slee-ve, portion and a main leg portion, pivot fen,

means passing thronghzsaidleg and'sleeve portion. a springinsaid ,leg portion-and coiilined 'between the'tp'of said leg p-f. 'on and said pivot means for normallyT nr i leg portion into. said sl .eeveii ieansWforlmovin g y saidv leg portion ,apredeterniined distance out from saidsleeve portion when said leg .portion is given `aV` part turn.V 10. In a table, afsupport. a leg pivoted thereto and comprising 'a sleeveportion and a leg' portion,A .said -rsle'evev vpei'iion fliaving round holes and said legportioii havingdiaglr on'al holes, fastening means Vpz'tssing through said support and all of said holes, arspriiig in said leg portion and enga-ging the fastening means for normally urgingV said leg portion in one direction, said legV being movable vertically by limited rotation thereof.

1l. A' table having a support, a leg pivoted to said support and comprising a sleeve portion and a leg portion teliescoping With said sleeve portion, fastening means through said support, leg and sleeve portions, a socket member, means vfor causing said leg portion to seat in said socket member when extended, and means for unseating said leg port-ion from said socket member by turning said leg portion.

12. The method of fastening a member having said ing a closed end yto afsecon'd member and providing spring tension therebetween which consists in inserting a spring in the firstmember, providing a free end `on said spring, returning the .free end through the coils of said spring, providing a hole in the closed end, extending the free end through the hole,

tensioning said springby pulling on said restrict said spring between the Closed end and the last named means, 'and lina-llycutting ol that part of the spring end which projects beyond the closed end of said member.

14. A table having a support, a sleeve pivoted to said support, a leg operatively connected to said sleeve, and means for urging said leg longitudinally relative to said sleeve.

15. A table having a support, a sleeve pivoted to said support, a leg .1 operatively connected to said sleeve, means forr urging said leg lengthwise relative to said sleeve, and meanscooperating with the sleeve and leg for moving the leg inwardly relative toy Ysaid sleeve when rotationalmovement is applied to said leg. f N

16. A table having ay support, a sleeve pivoted to said support, a leg operatively connected to said sleeve, means for urging said leg lengthwise relative to said sleeve, means cooperating with thesl'eeve and leg for moving the leg inwardly relative to said sleeve when rotationalvmovement is applied to said leg, and complementary means on said support and sleeve and engageable when the leg is in extended position.V Y

17. A table having a support, a sleeve, a leg telescoping withsaid sleeve, said leg and sleeve having alined holes, a pivot member passing through said holes in the sleeve and leg and .pivotallyconnecting said sleeve and leg to said4 support, and means for permit-k tmgtelescopio action between said sleeve and leg.. n ,Y

18. A table having a support,.asleeve, a leg telescoping with said sleeve, pivot means for pivoting said sleeve to said support, said leg being provided with oppositely disposed diagonal slots through which the pivot member extends, and spring means engaging the pivot member and urging the leg lengthwise relative to said sleeve whereby rotational movement appliedto said leg will telescope the leg within the sleeve.

19, In a table1 a support, a sleeve, alined holesin said support and sleeve, a pivot pin extending through said alined holes for pivoting 'the sleeve to the support, a leg tele'- scoping rwith said sleeve, saidleg being provided with oppositely disposedfinclined slots through which the pivot pin extends, and spring means engaging the leg and the pivot pin and tending to urge the leg from said sleeve whereby rotational movement imparted to said leg will retract the leg into the sleeve a predetermined distance. l

20. A table comprising a'leg, means pivotally, rotatively and slidingly mounting the leg relative to the table, and interengaging means between the table and leg, said interengaging means being disengaged when turning movement is applied to the leg whereby said leg will be moved longitudinally..

21. A table Acomprising a leg connected thereto for pivotal and longitudinal rota-V tional movement, means on said leg engageable with a part of said table,means to urge the leglengthwise of its Connection and acting against said last namedmeans, and means to cause said rotational movement to produce longitudinal movement of the leg.

VIn witness whereof, we have hereunder sub scribed our names.

JAMES E. Bruins.v CARL T. oHRis'rENsEN. 

